Defense Intelligence Agency

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an external intelligence agency of the United States federal government specializing in defense and military intelligence. The agency was formed on 1 October 1961 as a component of the Department of Defense and the US intelligence community, and it informs civilian and defense policymakers about the military capabilities of foreign governments and non-state actors and collects and analyzes military-related foreign political, economic, industrial, geographic, and medical and health intelligence. One-fourth of all intelligence content that goes into the President's daily brief is collected by the DIA. By 2017, it had an approximate strength of 17,000, with 75% being civilian and 25% being military; its true number is classified. Half of its employees are overseas at US embassies and other locations in 140 countries, and they have been involved in intelligence efforts throughout the Cold War, the War on Terror (being greatly expanded in size and scope after 9/11), and on American soil.